Automatic lamp-filling receptacle.



J. A. KELLER. AUTOMATIC LAMP FILLING REGEPTAGLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1,1908.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orrion JOHN A. KELLER, OF WEST ALLIS, WISCONSTN.

AUT GMAT IC LAMP-FILLING RE CE PT ACLE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Join A. KELLER, residing in TV est Allis, in the county of Milwaukee and State of W'isconsin, have in vented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Lamp-Filling Receptacles, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a lamp filling receptacle which will antomatically stop the flow of oil from the receptacle when the oil in the lamp being filled reaches a predetermined level.

In filling lamps from the ordinary oil cans it is necessary to carefully watch the level of the oil while filling, and as soon it reaches a point near the top of the receptacle to quickly tilt the oil can dmvnwardly, so as not to overflow the lamp. ()ften, however, the receptacle is overflowed causing annoyance and necessitating considerable effort in cleaning and removing the effects of the accident. \Vhen the receptacle of the lamp is made of an opaque material, the difficulty of filling the lamp without overflowing is increased, as the oil is only visible through the filling opening.

The present invention discloses an improved form of construction in oil receptacles in which the difiiculties above mentioned are obviated in a simple manner, and a lamp may be filled from this oil receptacle without any danger of overflowing the receptacle, as the oil will stop flowing as soon as the level of the oil rises up to the end of the spout which is inserted in the oil receptacle of the lamp.

Another object of the invention is to so construct and attach the automatic device to the oil can that it may be conveniently used as a handle for carrying the can.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the parts, and combination of parts, and all equivalents thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view of an oil can embodying the improved construction; Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the discharging spout thereof, taken 011 line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a fragment of a can illustrating a modified form of construction; and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 1, 1908.

Serial No. 424,552.

Fig. (l. is an enlarged detail view in section of a modified form of the discharge spout.

In the drawing the numeral 6 indicates an oil can which may be of any convenient shape or size, and 7 the threaded cap covering the filling opening 8 thereof. This cap is adapted to make an air tight closure for the opening. A discharge tube 9 extends vertically from the upper portion of the can for a short distance and is then bent at right angles thereto to form a discharge spout 10. A tubular handle 11 is connected. to the upper portion of the oil can diametrically opposite the discharge tube and is joined to the discharge tube at the point where it bends to form the discharge spout. This tubular handle extends vertically from the can for a short distance and is then bent at an angle and extends toward and is joined to the discharge tube to form a handle portion 12. The tubular handle is inclined to provide clearance for the hand so that when the can is tilted in filling a lamp sufficient space is provided between the handle and the lamp for grasping the handle. A small air inlet opening 13 is provided in th discharge spout near its end, and this opening is in communication with a small air inlet tube let positioned within the discharge spout and extending from the open end thereof through the tubular handle and terminating at the junction of the tubular handle with the can. This tube serves to supply air. to the receptacle while the oil is being poured out through the discharge spout. The outer end of the air tube is closed so that the air in entering the tube will pass through the inlet opening 13 of the discharge spout and through the opening 14 in the side of the air tube.

In the modified form of oil can shown in Fig. 3, the inner air tube is dispensed with and the tubular handle is adapted to serve for that purpose by extending it along the top of the discharge spout and terminating at apoint a slight distance from the end of the spout. The portion of the tube immediately above the spout is reduced in size so as to permit the insertion of the discharge spout through a very small receptacle filling opening.

Fig. 4: represents a slightly modified form of spout end in which the air inlet opening is in the form of a slot extending to the end of the spout and the air tube, the end of the Patented Au 24., race.

air tube being left open, so that in case the air tube is accidentally stopped up a wire may be easily inserted in the end of the tube for cleaning.

In the operation of filling a lamp with oil from this improved oil holding receptacle, the discharge spout is inserted into the oil receptacle of the lamp through its filling opening, and the oil can is tilted until the oil begins to flow. As the oil is emptied air will be drawn into the receptacle through the air opening and the air tube permitting the oil to flow out freely. WVhen the level of the oil in the lamp receptacle being filled rises to a height to cover the air inlet opening in the discharge spout, the oil will automatically stop flowing on account of a partial vacuum being created within the oil receptacle, due to the stopping of the air supply to the oil receptacle. The discharge spout is of such length that when inserted through the lamp receptacle opening with the discharge tube resting on the edge of the opening, that the receptacle will be properly filled when the level of the oil reaches the air opening positioned a slight distance above the end of the spout. The angular shaped handle permits the oil receptacle beconveniently held in a tilted position in filling a lamp without removing the chimney.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that an automatic lamp filling receptaele is provided which is very simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and effective in operation, and by means of which a lamp may be filled in the dark without liability of overflowing.

WVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. An automatic lamp filling receptacle, comprising an oil receptacle, a discharge tube connected to said receptacle, a discharge spout extending at an angle from the discharge tube, a tubular handle connected to the receptacle and to the discharge tube, and an air tube positioned Within the tubular handle and extending from the upper portion of the receptacle opposite to the point of connection of the discharge tube to a point near the discharge end of the spout, said air tube provided with an inlet opening near its outer end whereby oil will be automatically stopped from flowing from said receptacle when the level of the oil within the receptacle being filled rises above the inlet opening.

2. An automatic lamp filling receptacle, comprising an oil receptacle provided with a capped filling opening, a discharge tube connected to said receptacle and extending vertically therefrom, a discharge spout extending at an angle from the discharge tube and provided with an air inlet opening, a tubular handle connected to the receptacle and extending vertically therefrom a short distance and then bent at an angle and extending to the discharge spout and merging therewith, and an air tube positioned within the tubular handle and the discharge spout and extending from the upper part of the receptacle to a point near the discharge end of the spout, said air tube provided with an inlet opening near the outlet opening of the discharge spout whereby oil will be automatically stopped from flowing from said receptacle when the level of the oil within the receptacle being filled rises above the air inlet opening.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. KELLER. Witnesses O. A. KEENEY, ANNA F. SCI-IMIDTBAUER. 

